Earlier this summer I was supposed to meet some friends at a restaurant the for dinner.  I got lost.  I ended up in a neighborhood where I had never been.  

I stopped my car to consult my phone for directions.  Suddenly there were 2 Philadelphia police cars next to me.  The asked me to get out of my car. When I asked why I was told to get out of my car immediately. I did so.

I asked what the problem was and I was told that I was suspected of buying drugs  Apparently I was in an area that was known for drug trafficking.  I was told it would be easier on me if I allowed the search of my car and person.  I tried to explain that I was lost and it was meant with skepticism.  Eventually, I was allowed to continue on my way.  

The police apologized to me but I asked why I was targeted and they said more than half the time a white male in a semi expensive vehicle in this neighborhood is actually purchasing drugs.

Experience and knowledge of an area is what the police have to do to protect most of the population,

I wasn't a victim of racial profiling, I was a victim of real life profiling. Sure there will be abuses.  But do you really want law enforcement people to ignore their instincts, knowledge and experience because they are afraid of the ramifications of being wrong?

To answer the example of being targeting in New York.  Let me ask this.

You are walking on the sidewalk.  There is a police car observing the sidewalk,  The police notice a individual walking behind you.  They are wearing a long coat.  They have one hand in the jacket pocket.  They are walking briskly and closing the distance between you.  The police notice he is Black.  You are black.  He ends up mugging you and shoots you when you resist the mugging.  The police didn't interfere because they were worried about accused of racial profiling.  They ignore their experience, training and instincts because they have to worry about the ramifications of being wrong.  After all, all  they really see are two black men walking on a sidewalk.  Happens all the time right?

What really scary about my scenario, is that the victim can now sue the police officers in civil court because they didn't act.

Being a Cop (white, black, Hispanic or a woman) is a hard job.  If you can do better, I suggest you sign up  at your local academy, otherwise maybe you could exercise some sense.

There are good people out there and there are bad people out there and they don't wear signs.

Joe